New Zealand - North & South Island Honeymoon

With stunning landscapes, friendly locals and adventure on your doorstep, there is so much to see and do on this New Zealand honeymoon. Begin your married lives together exploring everything this beautiful country has to offer.

Combining the North and South of New Zealand provides you with the best of both worlds. Experience the hustle and bustle of the North Island’s cosmopolitan cities Auckland and Wellington or visit Fiordland National Park in the South to admire the breath taking natural scenery. Both sides of this stunning country have so much to offer. Spend many evenings in luxurious accommodation along your journey, including 2 nights in the 5-star Waterfront Apartments while in the Bay of Islands or enjoy an overnight stay in the 4-star Nugget Point Queenstown Hotel.

Things to do:

Get the perfect New Zealand honeymoon picture from the Sky Tower which offers stunning views up to 80km in each direction.

Visit the magnificent Huka Falls while in Lake Taupo. More than 220,000 litres off water thunder over this cliff face every second.

Go bungee jumping, jet boating, mountain biking or even skydiving together in Queenstown. It’s not known as the adventure capital of the world for nothing.

Spend 2 nights in Franz Josef and explore this glacier together with a Heli hike.

Best time to visit: All year round destination

What’s Included:

Flights with Malaysia Airlines

Taxes

Accommodation

Car hire

What’s Excluded:

Travel insurance

Airport transfers

Meals and drinks not specified in itinerary

Excess baggage charges levied by airlines

Gratuities to driver/guides and other conveyance attendants

Sightseeing and excursions not specified in the itinerary

Items of a personal nature

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Auckland

On arrival in Auckland, 'The City of Sails', you collect your rental car (4 door VW Polo or similar) at the airport and drive to your hotel. Imagine an urban environment where everyone lives within half an hour of beautiful beaches, hiking trails and a dozen enchanting holiday islands. Add a sunny climate, a background rhythm of Polynesian culture and a passion for outstanding food, wine and shopping, and you’re beginning to get the picture of Auckland, New Zealand's largest and most diverse city.

Day 2: Auckland to Bay of Islands

Travel north over Auckland's Harbour Bridge and along the Hibiscus Coast. There is the opportunity to view the mighty Kauri Trees en-route. You travel through Whangarei, Northland's only major city and port, before arriving in the beautiful Bay of Islands.

Days 3 & 4: Bay of Islands

Spend a couple of days at leisure enjoying the Bay of Islands and Northland. You might like to book an optional Cape Reinga & 90 Mile Beach day tour or take time to explore historic Russell or Kerikeri. Paihia is also a good spot to go swimming with dolphins. Optional activities not included and are for your own account.

Paihia is considered the capital of the Bay of Islands. The town and surrounding area played a key role in shaping the history of New Zealand. Not long after Cook sailed into the bay in 1769, whaling and sealing ships began to arrive in numbers and ignite the inevitable conflict of two cultures. The bustling tourist centre teems with cafes and shops and its here you will find an abundance of activities to keep you occupied.

Day 5: Return to Auckland

Day 6: Auckland to Coromandel

You head for Coromandel today, which with its pristine beaches, native forests and laid-back vibe, is one of New Zealand's most popular and best-loved holiday destinations. A binocular’s view across the gulf from Auckland, the Coromandel is everything that a big city isn’t. Cloaked in native rainforest with dazzling white sand beaches, it is rustic, unspoiled and relaxed.

Activities and attractions are plentiful, from fishing and diving to hiking and cycling. You might choose skydiving in Whitianga or a guided sea kayak tour around the coast. For the more adventurous there's Sleeping God Canyon, a 300m vertical descent down a set of waterfalls and a visit to Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach is a must.

Day 7: Coromandel To Rotorua

From Coromandel you head for Rotorua, known for its bubbling mud pools, shooting geysers and natural hot springs, as well as showcasing fascinating Maori culture. After marvelling at the distinctive landscapes and volcanic activity within a geothermal park, why not enjoy a simple soak in a natural hot stream or indulge in a wellness getaway at a luxurious spa.

Days 8 & 9: Rotorua to Taupo

Depart for the beautiful Lake Taupo today, which is about the size of Singapore – more of an inland sea really! You spend two nights here, which allows you to marvel at New Zealand's most visited attraction, the magnificent Huka Falls, where more than 220,000 litres of water thunder over the cliff face every second. Taupo is a great lake for water-skiing, sailing and kayaking. The Maori rock carvings at Mine Bay, which can only be seen from the water, make for a superb boat trip or kayaking excursion. The forests surrounding the lake offer hiking and mountain biking to suit all levels of experience.

Days 10-12: Taupo to Wellington

Travel to Wellington which was recently named the coolest little capital in the world by Lonely Planet and spend three nights here. Take a bus to the top of Mount Victoria for a 360 degree view of Wellington and its surrounds' the Te Papa museum is a must see, along with a visit to Weta Studios for movie fans.

Take a cable car up to the Botanic Gardens for some amazing views of the city and harbour. You can arrange a four wheel drive tour to the south coast where you see the New Zealand fur seal colony. There is so much to do in Wellington but don’t forget to take a stroll around the harbour and visit some of the amazing restaurants and bars in the downtown area – Wellington is said to have more bars and restaurants per capita than New York!!

Day 13: Wellington to Kaikoura

Today you take the ferry from Wellington to Picton (Ferry ticket at own expense), where on arrival you drive to Kaikoura which is a picturesque coastal town.

Kaikoura's environment is truly spectacular – the village is caught between the rugged Seaward Kaikoura Range and the Pacific Ocean. In winter the mountains are covered with snow, adding to the drama of the landscape. Kaikoura’s special talent is marine mammal encounters – whales, fur seals and dolphins live permanently in the coastal waters. Whale watching trips leave the town several times a day and the local seal colony is always entertaining.

Day 14: Kaikoura to Christchurch

From Kaikoura you drive to Christchurch, described by Lonely Planet as a "vibrant city in transition, coping resiliently and creatively”. The city has bounced back after the Canterbury Earthquakes with innovative new attractions, as well as some old favourites. Visit the Re Start container mall, the transitional Cardboard Cathedral, and some of the many pop up restaurants and bars. Contemporary art galleries, boutique shops and open-air markets add to Christchurch’s creative vibe.

Days 15 & 16: Christchurch to Queenstown

A long but scenic drive takes you to Queenstown where you spend two nights along the shores of Lake Wakatipu; it’s rumoured that gold prospectors - captivated by the majestic beauty of the surrounding mountains and rivers - gave this now cosmopolitan town its name.

With a smorgasbord of outdoor activities, Queenstown is the home of the ultimate adventure bucket list. There’s skiing in the winter and activities such as bungy jumping, sky diving, canyon swinging, jet boating, horse trekking and river rafting all year round. It has also become a renowned cycling destination.

Day 17: Queenstown to Wanaka

Head for Wanaka today, a truly stunning spot, where in winter, skiers flock from all over the world for superb skiing and snowboarding at Cardrona and Treble Cone, cross-country skiing at Snow Farm and heli-skiing high in the Harris Mountains. But Wanaka, is much more than a winter destination. Year round activities include fishing, hiking, canyoning, climbing and skydiving.

Our New Zealand expert Jennifer managed to fit in a tiger moth flight, which was an amazing way to see the Lake and she came away with some fantastic photo’s, - just make sure you keep a hold of your your camera during the loops !

Days 18 & 19: Wanaka to Franz Josef Town

Drive to Franz Josef Town where you spend two nights. The town shares its name with the famous glacier which is a World Heritage area. Apart from the Glacier itself there are quite a few things to see, including Glacier Hot Pools, Scenic flights, Kayaking, Heli-hikes, Helicopter rides and much more.

One piece of advice, if you want to hike the glacier or even just take a helicopter flight with a landing you will need to book in advance. Also please note any activity for the Glacier is weather dependent so it is normal for helicopter flights to be cancelled on the day due to bad weather, however you will be offered a different time/date or a refund if this happens.

Day 20: Christchurch

Drive back to Christchurch and stay 1 more night in the Colombo in the City on a Room Only Basis before your flight home.

Day 21: Depart

Sadly this is your last day in New Zealand and you return your hire car to the Christchurch Airport in time for your departure flight. If you would like to add on stop in Kuala Lumpur and/or Melbourne/Sydney, please ask and flight prices will be on request.